Menlo-Atherton High School students are one of three recipients of the 2011 Climate Generation award, an annual statewide competition challenging high school students to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, presented by the California Air Resources Board. The M-A project, Behavior Change or Climate Change, taught students how lifestyles can be modestly altered to make large emission reductions. M-A will be awarded a $2,000 grant for winning 1st prize.

The team coordinated multiple groups; obtained funding, public speaking expertise and school administrative support; made presentations; provided tools for students to implement emission reduction strategies; and, monitored the success of their effort with pre- and post-presentation surveys. In doing so, they navigated various political, economic, technological and sociological fronts that presented challenges.

The twelve students who pioneered the program — mentored by June Flora PhD, a Stanford research scientist — will be honored at an awards ceremony at M-A, tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, May 25 at 9 a.m. in the PAC Cafe.

Photo showing main sources and sinks of carbon monoxide courtesy of the California Air Resources Board